Security Matters. (TM)
By Mary Christidis, Operations Manager, Security
We teamed up with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to spread some festive cheer by doing a surprise pop up with our team to hand out some fun I Am Toronto Pearson branded swag and gift cards. What a great way to kick off the holiday season! Thank you GTAA!!!
By Daniel McCormack, Quality Control Manager
Hello ASP team! I am excited to be writing about the training we recently held at YYC. The team at YYC has always met our contractual requirements concerning annually recertifying guards to continue working their posts. However, after careful thought, we were able to craft a program that reviewed the critical materials required while also allowing all classifications to see what each other is responsible to complete on shift.
With the help of our National Training Manager, Mr. David Ramlagan, we were able to inject some laughter and excitement with the Kahoot quizzes. The overwhelmingly positive feedback suggests that it was a big hit, and as such, we will bring it into all future training — new hire, recurrent or specialized.
These mixed classes were also a terrific way for the ASP family to reconnect after a trying period where we had to isolate, distance, and delay in-person training.
Our participants were all smiles when they got to engage with the content alongside peers they have not seen in months or more. It was not just the value of the information that was taken away from the classes.
David also supplied our site with enough tablets to move the training paperwork, and paperwork of any sort, to a digital format. Over the coming weeks, we will be moving whatever we can online so that the company or client can access necessary information for any staff member in one place: audits, training records, etc.
It is going to be a colossal leap forward in the efficiency of our admin and audit processes. I know that our supervisor team are very excited to cut the time of the audits down by at least half with our new formats.
Lastly, I would like to give a shout out to some of our allstars from the past quarter:
Until next time ASP, take care out there!
By Kevin Hepburn, Acting Operations Manager
Who is an unsung hero? “One who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them.” I’d like to recognize a few of our staff whose recent actions should be recognized in this category.
Recently, ASP Terminal Patroller Kanchan Sarin was assigned Security 3 near gate 52. Prior to a medical call being dispatched from Operations, Kanchan saw a Calgary Police Service (CPS) Officer assisting a passenger in medical distress. Kanchan was proactive and started to assist immediately by setting up a privacy screen, and she began redirecting pedestrian traffic prior to a request from SOC/AOC Operations. Good job and well-done Kanchan!
Being placed in a difficult situation is part of a patroller’s everyday routine. One of our Supervisors was recently placed in this situation and handled it with grace and poise. ASP Supervisor Taranjit Sidhu was on her airside/groundside patrol part of her shift when she was dispatched to the Terminal Arrivals area that was congested due to a high volume of vehicles awaiting arriving passengers and Taxi’s. Other agencies were dispatched to the scene, however, the problem worsened.
The arrivals level was blocked, and vehicles were no longer moving which resulted in a safety concern. Taranjit arrived on scene and took control by moving vehicles and clearing the entire area. Our operations team watched and applauded her for her efforts, acknowledging her with a job well done over the radio! Well done, Taranjit.
With the completion of a three-month trial by CATSA at NPS-B (Non-Passenger Screening – Post ‘Bravo’) and a reopening of NPS-A (Non-Passenger Screening – Post ‘Alpha’) these posts have now returned and are in operation with our ASP Guards. During the closure of these posts, we were able to complete an aggressive job fair and onboarding of new employees to increase our staffing requirements overall.
By Mary Christidis, Operations Manager
“Please know that a few weeks ago I was in Terminal 1 of the Toronto Pearson International Airport, where I received excellent service from Jasneet Singh- ASP specialist. She went over and beyond the call of duty to provide me with information and guidance as it related to my travel questions and concerns. I was so impressed by her dedication to her career, and by her fine work ethic. She deserves to be recognized, and I hope that she is rewarded for her fine efforts!”
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
“I attended the gates today and I was speaking to the guard at V313A she was very knowledgeable and knew her post order very well. She smiled and told me that she loved her job and it was very reassuring having her at this post. I think it’s good to recognize hard working individuals.”
APRIL MCCONKEY, OFFICER, CONSTRUCTION SECURITY PLANNING
“Please commend Pirasanthy Kandavel for a job well done! I appreciate reading the reports filed and this helps with follow-up to stakeholders who need a letter to remind them of the advisory.”
AGAIN, JOB WELL DONE TO SANTHY!
By Mary Christidis, Operations Manager
On Wednesday, June 8th, 2022, at approximately 23:47, ASP Access Control Guard, Indira Marwah was stationed at Terminal 3, Door G120.
Indira observed a male passenger attempting to backflow from the baggage hall and into the secure area. She remained calm and followed her Post Orders, advised SOC, and maintained a line of sight to the subject passenger.
She got the attention of an ASP Door Patrol guard nearby who was able to stop the breach. Indira’s immediate actions under the pressure of a security breach prevented a containment situation, which could have had a significant impact on operations during a high-volume period.
Well done, Indira!
Rushmika Nadan was nominated for an Eye on Safety Award for noticing that FA3022 was not correctly secured while in the area performing other duties.
Her keen observation resulted in SOC properly taking the reader offline again and, in turn, ensured no unauthorized access through the PSL would be possible.
Great work, Rushmika!
By Garinder Grewal, Director, Aviation
ASP is thrilled to announce that more employees have received an Eye on Safety Award nomination from the GTAA. The GTAA Eye on Safety Awards acknowledge and celebrate a culture of safety and security at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The following ASP employees were recently nominated:
“The ASP guard Ahmad was at his duty post at check-in aisle 2 this evening when a young child, approximately 5 years old, approached him to say that he lost his parents. Ahmad comforted the child, tried to get information and called the AOC. PRP attended, and Ahmad ran around the Terminal looking for his parents. The child was very comfortable with Ahmad and his comforting demeanor. Between PRP, Ahmad and myself, the parents were found approximately 30 minutes later. Ahmad also found a few mini aircrafts and ensured both the child and his brother were comforted after this scary moment for the family.” – GTAA Manager of Operations.
On March 8, 2022, both Mohammed Alla and Ahmad Akbari came across an individual experiencing a medical emergency. Both remained calm and immediately notified all the required parties. They remained in the area and proceeded to do crowd control and diversion so the area would stay clear until the responders arrived. The GTAA and A.S.P. Inc. extend their appreciation to Mohammed and Ahmad for their outstanding contribution to safety and security, and for going above and beyond their dayto-day duties to keep Toronto Pearson International Airport safe.
By Garinder Grewal, Director, Aviation
At ASP our goal is to clearly differentiate us as a “Best in Class” service provider through operational excellence and superior customer service. We are a customer-centric organization, which is why we would like to compliment and thank our employee Sid Ali Hassan for always delivering the kind of customer service we all want to receive. Sid recognizes the importance of approaching customers with respect, friendliness, and a sincere desire to help. Sid is always 100% dedicated to ensuring an excellent passenger experience from curb to aircraft.
Please refer to the email below from one of many customers that were very pleased with Sid’s professionalism and outstanding customer service.
“I’m not kidding when I tell you that this gentleman was the single finest employee I’ve encountered in an airport anywhere around the world. His professionalism, patience, and kindness were remarkable. He was the person who was in charge of keeping folks like me (no ticket, but wanting to see my wife off on her way) from going into the terminal. He must have been more than 6’4” and at 5’6” he could have easily chosen to intimidate, ignore or dismiss me, but, he chose kindness, apologies and assistance.
He found a cell phone so I could call my wife so she would not be worried. He was VERY busy, but not too busy to help. My Jesus’s body in the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church. • June 16 – Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib A day observed by Sikhs to commemorate an individual who laid down his life for their people. June 24 – Litha A Pagan and Wiccan festival that begins on the summer solstice and celebrates midsummer. • June 24 – Feast of the Sacred Heart A feast day in the Roman Catholic Church that celebrates Jesus’s physical heart as a representation of his love for all humanity. Employee Spotlight: Sid Ali Hassan By Garinder Grewal, Director, Aviation biggest hope is that you can forward him what I’ve said about him. People doing the sort of job he is doing are confronted with all sorts of abuse on a daily basis just for doing their jobs. I should have made myself more informed about the rules at Pearson so I was prepared. The security guard never suggested this. He only wanted to help me and to do his job. I spent over 30 years as a teacher enforcing rules and trying to be respectful to children while doing so.
I can tell you this gentleman scores 100% when it comes to respect (not to mention kindness and professionalism) and if there is anyway this email could be forwarded to him, I’d like him to know exactly what I’ve said about him. I’m sure there are daily frustrations dealing with unreasonable people. He needs to know that he is making a difference, one passenger at a time!”
By Sarah Jessop, Human Resources Generalist
The world’s rich diversity is reflected in the observances that are celebrated and recognized by our teammates. Knowledge of the following holidays and celebrations can enhance our workplace diversity and inclusion efforts. Throughout the months of April, May, and June a variety of religious holidays, festivals, observances, and spiritual commemorations took place. These events are celebrated and observed by many of us, so in the spirit of respect and comradery, please familiar yourselve with them.
At ASP, we value and recognize
the diverse religious beliefs of
our employees.
By Karl Katzur, Manager Operations
YSB was a beehive of activity through the month of May. The airport saw a marked increase in the number of daily flights from all airlines and a notable increase in passenger counts.
Throughout this busy period ASP also managed to increase its staffing levels with the addition of four new guard members. Thanks mainly to the efforts of Nadia Onorato and her recruitment team as well as Sarah Jessop and the HR team.
On Friday May 27, 2022, YSB opened the terminal to non-passengers and allowed family and friends into the airport for the first time in over two years. On Tuesday May 31, 2022, YSB conducted their mandated mock disaster exercise. A simulated airline crash and an active armed passenger were the focus of the exercise. ASP Security participated with a record attendance of seven guards and two supervisors.
Senior YSB staff reported that the ASP Security team carried out all emergency response procedures with a high degree of efficiency and professionalism. ASP security staff at YSB want to wish all management and staff a pleasant and safe summer season.
By Noman Butt, Client Manager
Supinder Khangura started with ASP on April 13, 2022. On May 4, 2022, Supinder was working at a post she had just been trained on, the construction gate, when she was met with by a GTAA Officer for Security Planning. The client had this to say about their interaction with Supinder:
“I attended the gates today and I was speaking to the guard at V313A. She was very knowledgeable and knew her post order very well. She smiled and told me that she loved her job, and it was very reassuring having her at this post. I think it’s good to recognize hardworking individuals.”
Supinder presents herself in a professional manner and she enjoys working for ASP at Toronto Pearson International Airport. We are incredibly proud of what she has achieved in such a short time.